Suggestions for surprise b'day party

[DD]

Now what to do for when he turns 100? We've done all of the above ideas already.
You think Julia Roberts will call him?

I bet she would. Just ask.

 

[Mango]

My father gets irritated with alot of people around so we think 11 will be all he will tolerate. His alzheimers makes him do and say some things that are not very nice. My aunt was over one Sunday afternoon and it was just me and her and my mom and dad. I left at 3:00 and he followed me into the hall and told me why don't you take her with you, referring to my aunt. So I do not know how he will take 11 people. I wish there was some surprise person I could think of to invite that she hasn't seen in years.

Maybe someone can take him somewhere he likes for a while after being at the party for a short time for pictures and such?

 

[Lady D]

Maybe someone can take him somewhere he likes for a while after being at the party for a short time for pictures and such?

We never know how he will act. I can always tell when things are not going well by mom's voice. And so can everyone else close to her. I guess we will just wait and see how he does. He may surprise me. But that is a good suggestion. Thanks Mango.

 

[Beach Runner]

My father gets irritated with alot of people around so we think 11 will be all he will tolerate. His alzheimers makes him do and say some things that are not very nice. My aunt was over one Sunday afternoon and it was just me and her and my mom and dad. I left at 3:00 and he followed me into the hall and told me why don't you take her with you, referring to my aunt. So I do not know how he will take 11 people. I wish there was some surprise person I could think of to invite that she hasn't seen in years.

I can totally relate to that. My mom has Alz's and got ticked off yesterday because her neighbor died and the family got together after the funeral. Mom said, "I can't believe they're having a party. If you have a party after I die, I'll come back and haunt you." I said, "Mom, they're all just getting together after the funeral because they haven't seen each other in a while. Look at all of the out-of-town license plates." She said, "Well, nobody is crying. If y'all do that when I die, I'll take that table over there, raise it up in the air, and let it fall and kill you all." Alzheimer's is really a sad disease. It's more than just memory loss, as we are learning.

That's why you should keep it simple. Less agitating and he won't remember it anyhow. Just make some memories for the family because it gets worse.

 

[DuneAHH]

I've been thinking about RO's "stripper" idea...and in the "sense" that WE might think it's funny & many of our parents generation would NOT...it still got me thinking...
MY parents (who like yours would be HORRIFIED to DEATH by an actual CLOTHING stripper) would probably get a kick out of a "STRIPPiNG away the years" theme...which could be a "tasteful & respectable" twist on stripping and also a "newish" way to present "this is your life--skipping down memory lane" theme as DD suggests....
*wrap gifts or compile photos in a spiral or tear-away fashion...barbershop pole
*would hints & bits of the "vaudeville strip song" be offensive to them?...for instance did they like the movie Gypsy (Gypsy Rose Lee)?

FYI....In case you need...Some of my parents' favorite old time songs you can download:
1. I'm looking over a 4 Leaf Clover (THEIR song!)
2. YES! We have no bananas! (Spike Jones?)
3. Mare-sy Doats & Doe-sy Doats (?)
4. Boogy Woogy Bugle Boy of Company B (Anderson Sisters)
5. Que Sera Sera (Doris Day)
6. Rock of Ages
7. The Old Rugged Cross
8. Amazing Grace
9. Tiny Bubbles
10. Lawrence Welk & Guy Lombardo stuff.

Other gift ideas:
1. Old Classic Movies from their dating days. (my folks like old John Wayne westerns)


I'll keep thinkin'....

 

[DuneAHH]

Maybe someone can take him somewhere he likes for a while after being at the party for a short time for pictures and such?

This is a good idea Mango. My grandmother had alzheimers and it's very hard especially for the primary caregiver. Lady...maybe one of the nicest gifts your Mom could receive would be for one of you that she trusts (AND on that day whoever your father will feel "safe" with) to quietly occupy & care for him (elsewhere?) so your Mom can "let go" and have a couple of hours JUST FOR HER. All the more reason to give her gifts that she can "GO BACK" and enjoy later...memory gifts...pictures....music. And gifts that are "service to her" gifts for future...a cooked/delivered meal, a day of beauty (administered by a daughter or granddaughter so she doesn't have to leave your Dad if she's uncomfortable with that)....

 

[seacrestkristi]

Now those are some grayt ideas

 

[Lady D]

This is a good idea Mango. My grandmother had alzheimers and it's very hard especially for the primary caregiver. Lady...maybe one of the nicest gifts your Mom could receive would be for one of you that she trusts (AND on that day whoever your father will feel "safe" with) to quietly occupy & care for him (elsewhere?) so your Mom can "let go" and have a couple of hours JUST FOR HER. All the more reason to give her gifts that she can "GO BACK" and enjoy later...memory gifts...pictures....music. And gifts that are "service to her" gifts for future...a cooked/delivered meal, a day of beauty (administered by a daughter or granddaughter so she doesn't have to leave your Dad if she's uncomfortable with that)....

Maybe I need to get her a day at a day spa for a facial and massage!!! You think she is too old for that???

 

[shakennotstirred]

And gifts that are "service to her" gifts for future...a cooked/delivered meal, a day of beauty (administered by a daughter or granddaughter so she doesn't have to leave your Dad if she's uncomfortable with that)....

Great idea! My sister in law's family gave her grandmother a calendar filled in with names of family members who would come over on the weekends & clean the house for her. I think these visits ended up being more about socializing than cleaning but her gram really enjoyed having the company every weekend!

 

[ThirtyAGal]

FYI....In case you need...Some of my parents' favorite old time songs you can download:
1. I'm looking over a 4 Leaf Clover (THEIR song!)
2. YES! We have no bananas! (Spike Jones?)
3. Mare-sy Doats & Doe-sy Doats (?)
4. Boogy Woogy Bugle Boy of Company B (Anderson Sisters)
5. Que Sera Sera (Doris Day)
6. Rock of Ages
7. The Old Rugged Cross
8. Amazing Grace
9. Tiny Bubbles
10. Lawrence Welk & Guy Lombardo stuff.

Oh, this brings back memories of my grandmother. She used to sing an old song from her younger years to me when I was a child - and it is #3 on your list. It is actually "mares eat oats and does eat oats, and little lambs eat ivy". I have never met anyone else who has heard of that, but she would sing that song and just laugh! Thanks, Dune-Ahh for the memories.